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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

E. L. RANSOME.

CONCRETE MOLD ECE SUBWAYS ECE CABLE ROADS, BITCHES, Ce. No. 353,500.

Patented Nov. 30,1886.

N PEIERS Phaw-Lnhugmphr. washnglon. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- E. L. RANSOME.

GONGRTB MOLD FOR SUBWAYS POR CABLE ROADS, BITCHES, &c. N0. 353,500. Patented NOV. 30, 1886.

N. PETERS. Fhomumegmpher. Whingwn, nc.

Unirse raras Arent Carica.

EItiIEST L. RANSOME, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE MOLD FOR SUBWAYS FOR CABLE ROADS, BITCHES, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,500, dated November 30, 1886.

Application tiled February 17, 1886. Serial No'. 192.313. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, EnNnsr L. RANsoMn, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an Improvement in Concrete Molds for Subways for Cable Roads, Bitches, Sewers, Tunnels, Src.; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description thereof.

My invention relates tothe class of molds used for concrete work; and myinvention consists in aV mold constructed of any suitable inaterial having a curvature or direction of outline and extent of perimeter at one end conforming to the concrete work to be made, and thence tapering or sloping on its top toward a point.

It consists, further, in an auxiliary or supplementary frame having at one end a curva` ture or direction of outline, and an extent of perimeter conforming` to the excavation to which it isiitted, said frame liavinga straight topand a bottom sloping upwardly toward a point, being the reverse in construction and position to the mold.

It consists, further, in means for increasing and diminishing the diameter of the mold, and also of the auxiliary frame, when necessary; in .adjustable rollers in the mold, on which it may freely ride over a plate laid under them; in recesses in the sides of the mold for receiving guides for sustaining bolts, nuts, and other forms in position in the concrete until the same becomes sufliciently set to retain said forms unaidedgin a mechanism for changing vertically and horizontally the line of draft of either the mold or auxiliary frame, and in details of construction, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe. l

' The object of my invention is'to provide a mold for easily and rapidly laying the concrete lining of subways for cable roads,ditches, sewers, tunnels, and other extended excavations, and also to provide means for perfectly forming and holding the excavation in advance of the mold when said excavation is made in loose or sandy soil where it would have a tendency to cave.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my mold. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of aditch, showing the mold therein in elevation, and also the Shaper77 Hin the ditch in advance ofthe mold.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the mold, showing the recesses for the term-supporting guides. Fig. et is a cross-section of the mold in position, showing the top guides, c2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the mold, showing the adjustable rollers D and the adjustable draft mechanism. Fig. G is a front elevation of the adjustable draft mechanism. Fi g.` 7 is a crosssection showing the mold in a tunnel with the top supporting-plate, x. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the shaper H.

A is the mold, made of a frame or piece of any suitable material, though sheet metal is probably the best for the purpose. The mold is curvilinear in cross-section, or angular, or any other shape conforming to the shape in cross-section of the work to be done, and at its larger end a it has a perimeter conforming in curvature or direction and in 4extent to the inner sur face ofthe concrete work to be made.

This end c of the mold maintains an equal extent of perimeter for any given distance, and then the sides of the mold begin to slope on their tops gradually tothe point a', though the curvature or direction remains the saine throughout, its perimeter being only decreased by the sloping of the sides.

B are "screws, one end being right-hand threaded and the other left-h and threaded, and having a centralrwheel, b, by which they are operated. The ends of the screws are threaded in suitable lugs, b, on the sides of the mold. By turning these screws so as to force the sides apart the diameter of the mold, which for this purpose should have a springy or elastic nature, or bel otherwise adapted to expand, is increased, and the reverse takes place by 1eversing the movement of the screws.

The operation of the mold is as follows:

C is the subway, ditch, or other excavation.

Concrete can be laid on a dat surface and tamped; but it cannot be tamped efficiently on a vertical surface or a surface approaching a vertical.

In the bottom ofthe excavation the concrete is laid and tamped for a distance, say, a little longer than the mold. Then concrete is laid up by hand, or otherwise formed on the sides of the ditch to a shape approximating that of the mold, and to a length equal to or shorter than said mold. Thework is now ready for the mold, which is placed in the ditch, say,

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for the sake of clearer illustration, exactly in Athe concrete previously formed, which will of distance thata portion at least of its end a will come up with the beginning of the sloping sides of the concrete. The point athus moves beyond said sides and nearer thelimit of the bottom concrete, and therefore the sloping sides of the concrete will be below the level of the sides of the mold. The screws B are now operated to expand the mold to its seat, and the workmen proceed to tanip in more concrete until it reaches the level of the molds sides, and they carry on the bottom concrete in advance of the point of the mold. Now, the screws B are again operated, this time to contract the mold, thereby diminishing its diameter and relieving it, so' that it can be drawn forward to a fresh position. It now rides easily on the concrete,and is stopped atapoint as far in advance of its last move as said move was in advance of its first position. It is then tightened up again and the concrete tamped in to alevel with its sides once more. The operation is thus continued throughout the length of the excavation. The mold may be made of any length-say, for example, twenty feet. This will give a very gentle slope to its sides, which is the result to be desired, for it makes the tamping to be more effective and practicable-results which could notbe obtained on a steep incline.

The object in sloping the mold at all, instead of having a straight one, is to bring the concrete up within reach of the tamping-tools.

It is obvious that if a curvilinear mold with a straight top were placed in a ditch the lower portion' of ditch could not be reached by the tamping-tools, though the concrete could be -poured in', but it could not be tamped; but by having the sloping mold and operating it as described the sides ofthe concrete lining are always near enough to the level of the sides of the mold to enable the tamping to be done. By expandingand contracting the mold its periodical movements are rendered practicable, and can be easily and rapidly effected. By making it of considerable length I not only Y obtain a gentle slope for its sides, but also have room for a'number of workmen to do the tamping, thus accelerating the operation.

In order to insure greateraceuracy in lilling in the concrete, Ivmay make the sides of the mold as shown in Fig. 4, forming an inwardly-,bent portion, a2, which makes a Haring opening, into which the concrete may be directed with greater precision.

In order to make the mold ride easy when being moved, and to prevent it from having any tendency' to disturb or mar' the concrete by undue friction, I may, especially in very heavy-molds, provide it with rollers D in its bottom, Fig. 5. These should be made vertically adjustable, so that vwhen the mold is at rest they may be Withdrawn out of the way,

and when the mold hastobe moved they may be projected through their apertures in the bottom, and thereby carry the mold. Any suitable mechanical coutrivance may be employed to effect this adjustment.

I have here illustrated a pivbted lever,d, in which the rolleris mounted, and a screw, d', by which the lever is moved on its pivot to project or withdraw the roller.

E is an independent plate laid under the4 Vmold, and on which the rollers travel, thus avoiding any disturbance of the concrete bottom. i

In the sides of the mold may be made grooves or recesses F, for receiving the guides G, which are for the purpose of sustaining bolts, nuts, or otherforms,g,in position in the concrete until the same becomes sufficiently set to retain said forms unaided, Fig. 3. The mold can be so contracted, as heretofore explained, before being moved that it will leave the guides B` undisturbed. i f

It will be observed that this mold is adapted for use in tunnels and other excavations having either a complete circumference, or one with more degrees than an ordinary ditch, in which case, ofcourse, the end a will have a perimeter'corresponding in extent, or nearly so, to the inner surface of the concrete work, whatever that may be; and in such work I would have a plate, x, Fig. 7, independent of the mold, but resting on the top of its large end and overlapping its sides. This plate is for holding up the top concr'etebuntil it hasl become set, the mold in the, meanwhile moving forward under it, orpothers like it, leaving them behind for subsequent removal at the proper time. .t

When the excavation is being made in loose orf-sandy soil, or any soil which has a tendency to cave and not to preserve the perfect outline desired, I use, in connection with the Y mold A, the frame H, which from its peculiar function may be termed the shaperJ It consists of a frame of any suitable material, having, at one end a curvature or outline and an extent of perimeter conforming to the excavation. Its top is straight, but its bottom is sloped upwardlytoward a'point on aline, h h, thus leaving an opening, h, which is IIO flanked by the side arms, h, whose lower edges are the lines h h, Fig. 8. In using this shaper it is placed in the Aexcavation in advance of the mold, and in a reverse position, so that the larger ends of t-he two lie farthest apart, while their smaller ends arev adjacent that of the mold entering the opening h of the Shaper between its side arms, h2. The mold being smaller in diameter than the Shaper, a space is left between the two, which enables the operation of the mold to take place, ashereinbefore described. The shaper holds up the sides of the excavation and preserves its ontline. It is moved in advance of the mold as the latter moves; and may be wholly independent thereof or connected with it, so that both'may be moved together.

Ordinarily the shaper may be a rigid one, but when working in ground where patches of harder material-,such as rock-have to be traversed it may be necessary to adapt it to be expanded and contracted. This I would accomplish in a similar manner as I have described in connection with the mold-namely, by making the frame H of some material having an elastic or springy nature, or otherwise adapted te be expanded or contracted. and providing it with the right and left hand screws B.

In moving the mold and the shaper it may be necessary at times to alter the line of draft, either vertically orv laterally, or both. I have here shown as a means for accomplishing this end a frame-work, I, consisting of a slotted or grooved base and standards. In the top of these latter is mounted a horizont-al screw, J, upon which a clutch-nut,j, travels. In the clueh-nut is seated the head of a vertical screw, K, the base of which travels in the slotted base of frame I.

Upon this screw is a nut, 7a, in which is swiveled the draft hook k.

This device is secured within the small end of the mold A, when this latter is use by itself, or in the large end of the Shaper H, when used in connection with the mold. By-operating screw J the line of draft is changed laterally, and by operating screw K it is changed vertically.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A concrete mold consisting of an expansible and contractible frame or piece of the outline in cross-section of the work to be made, and having a sloping top, substantially as described.

2. A concrete mold consisting of a laterally expanding and contracting frame or piece having one end conforming in curvature or direction of outline and extent of perimeter to the inner surface ofthe concrete work to be. formed, and having its top sloping thence toward a point, substantially as described.

3. A concrete mold consisting of a laterally expanding and contracting frame or piece, A, having an end, a, conforming` for any given distance in extent of perimeter to the inner surface of the concrete work to be made, and having its top sloping thence toward a point, substantially as described.

4. A concrete mold consisting of the laterally expanding and contracting frame or piece A, having an end, c, with a straight top, and thence having its top sloping toward a point, a', substantially as described.

5. A concrete mold consisting of a frame formed in one piece, having a sloping top, and of a nature adapting its diameter to be increased or diminished, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A concrete mold consisting of the frame o A, formed of a single piece of metal, having a top sloping toward a point, and a mechanism for expanding or contracting its sides,

whereby its diameter may be increased or diminished, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The frame or piece A, having a sloping top, in combination with the right and lelt hand screws B, fitted between its sides, whereby its diameter may be increased or diminished, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

8. The frame or piece A, having an end, a, with a straight top for any given distance, and its top thence extending on a slope toward a point, in combination with the right and left hand screws B, fitted between its sides, substantially as described.

9. The adjustable and movable concrete mold A, formed of a single piece, having a sloping top, as described, and inwardly bent at a2, substantially as described.

10. The laterally expanding and contracting mold A, in combination with the verticallyadjustable rollers D, mounted in the bottom of said mold, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

l1. The movable concrete mold A, having the adjustable rollers D in its bottom, in combination with the independent plate E, on which they travel, substantially as described.

12. A movable and adjustable concrete mold, as described, having the grooves or recesses F in its sides, and the forin-supporting guides G in said grooves, substantially as described.

13. In combination with the movable or traveling concrete mold A, having a sloping top, as described, an auxiliary or supplementary movable or traveling frame, H, to be placed in the excavation in advance of the mold, said frame having at its farther end a curvature or direction of outline and an extent of perimeter conforming to the excava- `tion, a straight top,` and an upwardly-sloping bottom, substantially as described.

14. In combination with the movable or traveling concrete mold A, having a sloping top, as described, an auxiliary or supplementary movable or traveling frame, H, to be placed in the excavation in advance of the mold, said frame having at its farther end a curvature or direction of outline and an extent of perimeter conforming to the excavation, a straight top, and an upwardly-sloping bottom, forming an opening, h', and side arms, h2, between which the point of the mold lies, subst-antiall y as described.

15. In combination with the movable or traveling adjustable concrete mold A, having a sloping top, as described, the auxiliary or supplementary movable or traveling frame, adapted to have its diameter increased or diminished, said frame having at its farther end a curvature or direction of outline and an extent of perimeter conforming to the excavation, a straight top, and an upwardly-sloping bottoni forming an opening,-h, and side arms, h2, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

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16. The traveling pieces or frames, as herein described and used, in combination with screws J and K, for adjusting vertically and laterally their line of draft, substantially as described.

17.` The traveling pieces or frames, as herein described and used, in combination with the means for adjusting their line of draft, consisting of the horizontal screw J, with its clutch-nut, thelaterally-moving screw K,with

its nut 7c, and the draft-hook k in said latter nut, substantially as described.

18. The traveling mold A, having a large end, a, with straight top, said mold thence having atop sloping downwardly, as described, in combination with an independent plate or plates, x, laid on top of the end a, for the purpose 0f sustaining the top concrete until it has become set, substantially as described.

19. A concrete mold consisting of a frame or piece of the outline in cross-section of the work to be made, and' having a bottoni straight 2.53.5300v r l l y Y throughout its length, and a top sloping down? u to a point, substantially as described.

20. The inode or riethod of lining subways for cable roads, ditches, sewers,-tunnels, Snc., with concrete, which consists in tamping the concrete into the space between the exterior of the mold and the inclosing subway along the diagonally-sloping sides of the mold until such space is lled, then longitudinally advancing the mold until additional sloping space is formed between the mold and inclosing subway adapted to be filled and tamped as before, and so on, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST L. RANsoME.

Witnesses: A.'

S.YH. NoURsE, H. C.. LEE. 

